Joseph “Fats Joe” Cartagena is being accused of intercourse trafficking, fraud and extra in a brand new lawsuit introduced through a former worker.
The 157-page lawsuit used to be filed June 19 within the Southern District of New York through legal professional Tyrone Blackburn on behalf of Terrance “T. A.” Dixon, who says he labored with Cartagena for over 15 years from 2005 to 2020 as a “hype guy,” “lyricist, background vocalist, safety workforce member, and inventive collaborator,” in keeping with the swimsuit.
Within the grievance, Dixon alleges Cartagena and his buddies “systematically engaged in coercive hard work exploitation, monetary fraud, sexual manipulation, violent intimidation, and mental coercion.” Dixon claims he “contributed lyrics, vocals, and inventive course” to a number of of Cartagena’s songs, together with “Congratulations” and “Ice Cream,” “with out reputation or truthful repayment.”
Along with monetary allegations, Dixon claims the rapper allegedly compelled him “into humiliating eventualities, together with intercourse acts carried out below duress and surveillance” and allegedly threatened abandonment in international international locations, process loss or bodily hurt if he did not comply, in keeping with the grievance.
The lawsuit additionally claims that Cartagena and his buddies allegedly trafficked minors and psychologically groomed them, with Dixon claiming he “in my view witnessed” Cartagena allegedly “interact in sexual family members with kids who had been fifteen and 16 years previous.”
Rapper Fats Joe plays throughout Day 2 of 2025 Jazz In The Gardens Track Pageant at Arduous Rock Stadium on March 9, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Prince Williams/WireImage/Getty Photographs
Given the character of the allegations, a cause caution used to be integrated on the best of the court docket record, noting it comprises “extremely graphic knowledge of a sexual nature, together with sexual attack.”
Dixon is looking for over $2 million for “unpaid efficiency wages” in addition to further damages.
When reached through ABC Information, Cartagena’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, mentioned Cartagena sued Dixon and legal professional Blackburn again in April alleging “extortion, slander and extra.” He claimed Dixon’s lawsuit in opposition to his consumer used to be “a blatant act of retaliation.”
“The lawsuit filed through Tyrone Blackburn and Terrance Dixon is a blatant act of retaliation — a determined try to deflect consideration from the civil swimsuit we filed first, which uncovered their coordinated scheme to extort Mr. Cartagena via lies, threats, and manufactured allegations,” Tacopina mentioned.
Dixon and Blackburn have till June 23 to put up a reaction to the primary lawsuit and a listening to for the case is scheduled to happen Aug. 1.
Tacopina described Dixon as a “disgruntled former worker” and claimed Blackburn has “a development of abusing” the court docket gadget.
“We did not simply sue a disgruntled former worker seeking to revive a false declare from 15 years in the past — we sued the legal professional at the back of all of it,” Tacopina persisted. “Tyrone Blackburn has a well-documented development of abusing the courts to annoy defendants and generate media consideration.”
“Mr. Cartagena may not be intimidated,” he added. “We have now taken prison motion to reveal this fraudulent marketing campaign and cling everybody concerned responsible.”
In a commentary to ABC Information, Blackburn driven again in opposition to Tacopina’s claims.
“Joe [Tacopina] is determined. He concept most effective of himself when he erroneously suggested his consumer to take this path,” Blackburn mentioned partly.
He persisted, “Fats Joe is aware of what he has completed. My consumer used to be with him for just about twenty years. My consumer does no longer do medicine, nor does he drink alcohol. His reminiscence is absolute best, and he has receipts. We have now 3 further pages of predicated acts, which element trafficking of every other type. Joe [Tacopina] will have to higher advise his consumer to do the good factor.”
Tacopina has prior to now represented high-profile purchasers equivalent to President Donald Trump. Blackburn has represented big-name purchasers as effectively, together with rapper T.I. and manufacturer Rodney Jones.
